the market of calculators

Calculator

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Calculators calculatoris the device that is used for performing calculations. The modern calculator usually incorporates a general-purpose computing system, however, they're often made to execute specific functions. For example graphing calculators focus on graph-centered math like trigonometry and statistics. Additionally, modern calculators are larger and more portable than a majority of computers However, some personal digital aids (PDAs) are similar in size and size to hand-held calculators.

Since calculatorsare miniature, one day devices that are the size of credit cards may perform the exact calculations as the current large scientific calculators. Another possible advance may be comparable to a portable computer with the exception that the numbers are not input by buttons, but instead written on the screen. With this development, the requirement for buttons could be eliminated and the size of the device will be further reduced.

Overview

There was a time when mechanical clerical aids such as abaci, comptometers, Napier's bones, mathematical books, tables, slide rules or mechanical adding machines were utilized for work with numerics. The word "calculator" denoted a person who was able to do this work for a living , using such tools as well as the pen or paper. The process of calculation, which was semi-manual was tedious and prone to errors.

Modern calculators are electrically powered and are available in an array of designs and sizes, from basic, free, credit card-sized models, to more robust models with built-in printers.

Electronic calculators

In the past, calculators were nearly as big as the computers of today. First, mechanical calculators used mechanical desktop calculators, which quickly replaced by electromechanical desktop calculators and the electronic calculators were later replaced by first thermionic devices, then transistors, then hard-wired integrated circuit logic. Nowadays, the majority of calculators are hand-held electronic devices.

Basic configuration

The complexity of calculators can vary according to their purpose. A standard modern calculator may include the following parts:

• A power source such as a batteries or solar panel, or both
• A display, usually made of LED light sources and liquid crystal (LCD) capable of showing a range of numbers (typically either 8 or 10.)
• Electronic circuitry
• Keypad that includes:
  • The ten digitsof 0 through 9
  • The decimal point
  • The equals sign will ask for the answer
  • The four Arithmetic functions (namely subtraction, multiplication and division)
  • A cancel button to clear the current calculation
  • The buttons for on and off
  • Other functions that are fundamental include square root as well as percentage (%).
• More advanced models may have one-number memory that could be pulled up when needed. It may also include the Cancel Entry button, to remove the numbers currently entered.

Since the mid 1980s, simple calculators have been installed in other small devices like pagesrs, mobile phones or wrist watches.

Electronic calculators with advanced technology

More sophisticated scientific calculators offer trigonometric, statistical and various mathematical features. The most modern and advanced calculators can display graphics as well as include features of computer algebra systems. They are also programmable; calculators include solvers for algebraic equations along with financial models, and even games. A majority of these calculators will print numbers with up to 10 decimal points or digits fully on the screen. Scientific notation is used to represent numbers of up to 9.999999999*10 ⁹⁹. If a larger number or mathematical formula that produces higher numbers than the number entered (a popular example is typing "100! ", read as "100 factorial") then the calculator simply displays "error."

"Error" is also displayed if a function or an operation is not mathematically defined such as division by zero or roots of negative numbers (most scientific calculators do not allow complex numbers, though some expensive ones do have a special function for working with complex numbers). A few, but not all, calculators can distinguish between these two kinds of "error," though when they do, they are not always easy for users to understand since they're usually listed as "error 1" or "error 2."

Only a few companies design and manufacture the latest financial and engineering calculators for professionals the most well-known include Casio, Sharp, Hewlett-Packard (HP), as well as Texas Instruments (TI). Calculators like these are great example of embedded software.